(12-06-2023, 09:04 AM)Caldrac Wrote:

(12-05-2023, 11:36 PM)Jaguarmeister Wrote: To the bolded, I've rewatched the first half this evening and saw Doug's comment and Joe Buck said 67 yards rushing actually for the Bengals at the half I believe.  Here's the thing, we've been averaging giving up like 72 yards on the ground per game not including QB scrambles, so it was kind of already obvious and a big deal to Doug that they were gashing us on the ground which was by extension providing better down and distance situations for them in the passing game.

Also, earlier in the broadcast it was mentioned that the hallmark of Caldwell's defense is to make the opposing team one dimensional.  We weren't making them one dimensional which is a big problem for a bend don't break defense.  

I think Doug was right on point with his comment.  Unfortunately, knowing is only half the battle.

Browning was 17/18 or basically perfect at the half way mark. And close to, if not, over 200 yards passing already. If anything? It was his ability and the passing game moving the football most of the time and thus setting up the running game the way they did. 

They got caught sleep walking and flat footed once again as a defense. This is the 2nd time in 4 weeks that this defense got schooled by a superior offensive play caller. They had no answers.

Our defense has given up yardage through the air all year and that never set up the run for anyone else.  Something else was up in the run game on Monday night.  Maybe Zac had some blocking schemes we weren't prepared for, or there was lack of effort (there sure seemed to be in some areas), or lack of adjustments by Caldwell or something else, but them running the ball effectively certainly helped Browning.

The idea about committing to stopping the run is that many more bad things can happen for an offense when the ball is in the air or in the process of being in the air (tipped balls, interceptions, sacks, etc.)  It should be a little easier to defend the pass when you've effectively said "no sir" to their running game.

We're good at stopping the run.  They weren't a good running team coming in.  That got flipped on its head in the first half and coach recognized it as the problem it was.  Unfortunately it continued in the 2nd half.  Campbell being terrible and their receiving corps being top notch certainly helped Browning and their passing game, but shutting down the run as we have done consistently this year would have absolutely made things easier for us and harder on him.

EDIT: Yeah in retrospect, our pass defense in the 1st half was exceptionally bad. It wasn't bend don't break, it was just broken. The series to start the 2nd quarter Browning hit on 4 of 5 passes for a total of 80 yards in chunks of 14 to 25 yards each which marched them down the field for their first TD. And then obviously the failure of Campbell 1 on 1 with no help against Chase early in the 3rd which led to a long and quick TD. Despite the defensive woes, had Lawrence not gone out I think we win the game though and I don't say that to disparage CJ as I think he played admirably all things considered.

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